Stories from Thursday, July 17, 2003

Cooling off(07/17/03)Miner Fire Department firefighter Jason Foley cools off Tuesday afternoon during a fire on Harrison Street. Due to the heat, Miner fire personnel also had Sikeston Department of Public Safety respond to the fire.

Column repair(07/17/03)Jimmy Land of Quertermous Masonry repairs the old United Methodist Church columns Tuesday afternoon. The company is in the final week of work on the columns, which are a landmark in downtown Sikeston.

Triathalon will put challenge to kids(07/17/03)SIKESTON - As a child growing up, summers are often spent swimming, running and riding bikes, but when the three are put together it makes for an exciting test of strength and endurance. This test is now being put to area youngsters in the "Fins and Feet Youth Triathalon" scheduled for Aug. 23 at the Sikeston Country Club...

Health Facilities Classic tees off today(07/17/03)SIKESTON -- The 2003 Health Facilities Rehab Outpatient Center Classic kicks off today at the Bootheel Golf Club. The tournament will run through Sunday, with the top golfer pocketing $20,000 for first place. So what will it take to win this year's NGA/Hooters event?...

William Chesser(07/17/03)JASONVILLE, Ind. - Jason J. Chesser, 71, formerly of Canalou, Mo., and Indianapolis, died at 11:05 a.m. July 16, 2003, at his home. Born March 1, 1932, in Lamar, Ark., son of the late Charlie F. and Maude Stone Chesser, he was a roofer with local No. 119 of Indianapolis for 37 years. A member of Blessed Hope Baptist Church in Jasonville, he was a U.S. Army veteran of the Korean War and a Bronze Star recipient...

Billy Jowers(07/17/03)DeSOTO - Billy Jowers, 68, formerly of Portageville, died July 16, 2003, at Woodman Manner Nursing Center in DeSoto. Visitation is from 9 a.m. Friday until service time at 3 p.m. at DeLisle Funeral Home in Portageville. The Rev. Mark Inman will officiate...

Jessica Dale(07/17/03)CAPE GIRARDEAU - Jessica Raye Dale, 14, died at 3:25 p.m. July 15, 2003, at her home. Born July 10, 1989, in Sikeston, she was the daughter of Robert E. Dale and Roberta Hart of Cape Girardeau. Survivors in addition to her parents include: her stepmother, Jeanie Dale of Cape Girardeau; three brothers, Zachary Dale, Devon Dale and Maxwell Dale of Cape Girardeau; her maternal grandparents, Iva and Julian Hart of Paragould, Ark.; paternal grandparents, John and Edith Dale of Caruthersville; and her stepgrandparents, Camille Fohl of Winter Park, Fla., and John and Linda Fohl of Maitland, Fla.. ...

Fay Whittle(07/17/03)PORTAGEVILLE - Fay Barnes Whittle, 91, died July 16, 2003, at the Lutheran Home in Cape Girardeau. Born Nov. 22, 1911, in Portageville, daughter of the late John N. and Lucille Fisher Barnes, she was a member of the First United Methodist Church and the Wesleyan and United Methodist Women in Portageville...

Danny Mays(07/17/03)SIKESTON - Danny Ross Mays, 48, formerly of East Prairie, died at 5:30 a.m. July 16, 2003, at his home. Born Dec. 29, 1954, in Gideon, son of Myrtle Ganus Mays of Sikeston and the late Ruben Mays, he was a farmer and was of the Baptist belief. On March 5, 2002, he married Tina Eichmann who survives of the home...

Donald Crane(07/17/03)DEXTER - The Rev. Donald E. Crane, 86, went to be with his Lord and Savior on July 15, 2003, at Southeast Missouri Hospital in Cape Girardeau. Born July 26, 1916, in Dudley, son of the late W.V. Crane and Nancy Walls Crane, he graduated in 1935 from Dexter High School and was an avid supporter of the Bearcat athletic program. ...

Bixler-Barber(07/17/03)SIKESTON -- Gary and Louanna Bixler have announced the engagement of their daughter, Angela Dawn, to James Warren Barber II, son of Paul and Charlotte Barber of Deatsville, Ala. The future bride graduated in 1994 from Sikeston High School. She graduated in 1998 with a Bachelor of Science and in 2000 with a Master of Science in language pathology from Southwest Missouri State University in Springfield. She is employed with the Center for Pediatric Rehab in Pensacola, Fla...

Brown-Johnson(07/17/03)SIKESTON -- Margaret Anna "Annie" Brown and Richard Louis Johnson have announced their engagement. A 1990 graduate of Rolla Senior High School, the future bride is the daughter of George Shanks of Rolla and the late Margaret Price. She is a student at Metro Business College in Cape Girardeau...

Looking Back 7/17(07/17/03)SIKESTON - Charles Blanton III celebrated his ninth birthday anniversary Thursday by inviting friends to a swimming party at the municipal pool. 40 years ago July 17, 1963

St. Louis schools' closing is first step(07/17/03)If you want to know what happens to public education when your population decreases and your tax base shrinks, just look to St. Louis. Officials there announced this week that 16 public schools will be closed this school year to cut costs in the cash-strapped district. Trying to improve on a $90 million cash shortfall, the district hopes to save $15 million by closing the schools and another $14 million by selling vacant school facilities...

Speakout 7/17(07/17/03)Does anyone know what ever happened to the young lady who used to sing in one of these churches around here. She was on the telethon when Kenny Bridger had it. She had a beautiful voice and she was really a good piano player. I think her name was Sandra McGee. Does anyone know where she has got off to or does she still sing?...